Ogun workers threaten indefinite strike over unpaid deductions, others

The organised labour in Ogun State , Monday, threatened to begin what they describe as total strike from Thursday over unpaid 12 months cooperative deductions among others.

The workers  said the strike this time around would be indefinite , except the state government paid up outstanding 12 months unions check off dues, 12 months of global deductions which include bank loans repayment, cooperative savings and Ileya/festival savings.

The  workers spoke through  Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, in the state, at a press briefing held at NUJ secretariat, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta.

While addressing newsmen,  the state chairmen of the unions, Abiodun Olakanmi, Akeem Ambali and Olubunmi Fajobi respectively  jointly said they demanded that the state government  should ensure the  payment of contributory pension deductions, gradual payment of retirees' gratuities, and the payment of 16 months salaries of workers of Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu.

Olakanmi who read the speech signed by the leaders of the unions alleged that  the state government had failed to honour the understanding reached with workers in March this year, which made them to suspend the then strike, which lasted for 10 days.

While explaining the reason for the suspension of the recent strike, Ambali said the workers  suspended the previous strike action following the intervention of the paramount rulers in the state, mentioning the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.

The union leaders, however, declared that they would never welcome any intervention from either the paramount rulers or any prominent personalities in the state to stop the impending strike.

Olakanmi, "The state government has disappointed us. It has pushed us to the wall. It has been playing with our intelligence. This coming strike is going to be total.

"Without the state government attending to these demands, the industrial action we are embarking on, come Thursday 20th October, 2016 will neither be called of nor be suspended.

"All state public/civil servants of Ogun state are directed to proceed on indefinite strike from this date until they hear otherwise from the leadership of the organised labour."

When contacted , the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, said the state government has yet to receive the notice of the impending strike.

He said, "The Government is yet to receive the notice. It is when they serve us that we can respond.

"It is strange. As I speak to you, we don't know they (workers) want to go on strike. It is when they serve us with their communication, that when we will know their grounds.

"We are not owing any salary, there should be no grounds for strike. "